Polisher with reservoir



March 27, 1934. A. G. DECKER POLISHER WITH RESERVOIR Filed Nov. 14, 19502 Sheets-Sheet l snow H 01,

lllltvlllll March 1934. A. G. DECKER 1,952,910

POLISHER WITH RESERVOIR Filed Nov. 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 2 1 I Q QZ] wuentot 9 W Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATENT" OFFICE POLISHER WITHRESERVOIR Alonzo G. Decker, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Black &Decker Manufacturing Company,

Towson, Md., a. corporation of Maryland Application November 14, 1930,Serial No. 495,637

5 Claims.

The art of cleaning lacquered and similar surfaces particularly thesurfaces of motor vehicle bodies, and applying a thin film of wax whichis thus brought to a high polish, has been performed by hand with areasonable degree of success. In accordance with the practice as thusdeveloped, the process consists in first cleaning the car by washing itwith water with or without a chemical solvent. When it has beensatisfactorily cleaned, Wax is spread on the surface and rubbed in byhand until the work attains a sufiicient gloss. To perform thisoperation in a satisfactory manner requires a great deal ofcare andconsumes so much time that cleaning and waxing in this way is quiteexpensive. 7

As a substitute for the hand method, the assignee of the presentapplication has developed a method of polishing by the use of a portablepower driven rotary tool which has proved highly successful. Thisconsists in rotating a wool or similar pad in close contact with thework, the pad being moved at a peripheral speed of from 1600 to 4000feet per minute. In connection with this operation, a cleaning andpolishing compound in liquid form is used, the liquid ingredients beingpreferably such as to evaporate quickly under the action of thepolishing pad and the draft or windage created by it so that thecleaning elements of the dirt coating dissolved by the liquid are thrownoff in the form of powder leaving an oily waxy residue which isimmediately attached or caused to' adhere to the surface and brought tothe proper lustre.

In the practice of the applicants method referred to, a cleaning andpolishing liquid which in the preferred form consists of a fineabrasive,water, a hydrocarbon solvent for greaseand a small amount of wax insuspension is spread thinly upon the surface to be cleaned, the padrotating at the speeds specified is then held in contact with thesurface and passed over the surface to be treated.

To spread the cleaning and polishing material over the surface in thisway preliminary to polishing, involves something in the nature of a handoperation prior to the effective use of the portable power operatingmeans by which the pad is rotated.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the necessity for thepreliminary hand operation by feeding the cleaning and polishingcompound automatically to the operative surface of the pad while the padis either stationary or rotating and prior to the final polishingoperation.

In accordance with the preferred operation of equipped in accordancewith one form of the inobservation, the polishing reservoir and a porthetool the polishing compound which is a fine liquid, is fed through thepad when the latter is not rotating, the pad being held against thesurface to be polished so that the liquid runs on to the surface and isspread around by moving the pad over the desired area. The feed beingthen shut off, the motor is started and the polishing operationproceeded with as previously outlined. The apparatus comprises aportable electric polisher equipped with a disklike polishing padmounted on the tool and provided with an outlet leading from thereservoir through the spindle of the tool and into the central portionof the pad. The equipment also includes a valve arrangement on thereservoir and a spring feeding device so that the liquid can be fed asrequired though the spring feed isnot always essential. Y

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a' portable power drivenrotary pOlisher embodying the features of my invention in the preferredform.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a polishing toolvention. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation on a somewhat larger scale and fromthe same point o'f tion of the spindle and connecting parts being shownin vertical central section. g

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the reservoir and a fragment of thecontrolling lever.

Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the tool taken through theaxis of the spindle, the motor casing being shown fragmentarilyinclevation. In this view another type of valve control is shown. 1

Figure'5 is atop elevation of the construction shown in Figure 4 on asmaller scale.

Referring to the drawings bynumerals, each of which is used to indicatethe same or similar parts in the different figures, the constructionshown in Figure 1 comprises a motor housing 1, having a gear casing 2secured to one end of the housing and a hand grip 3 secured to the otherend. The grip or grip casing 3 preferably encloses a suitable switchmechanism and is provided with a projecting switch lever 4, whichmay bein the form of a trigger or similar device. The motor shaft 5, Figure 4,is shown as provided with a pinion 6, which meshes with a gear 7connected to the spindle 8 to rotate therewith in any convenient way asby means of key 9. The spindle 8 is mounted in bearings 10, 11in thegear casing in which it is located at right angles to the motor shaft 5,projecting downwardly from gear casing 2.

The spindle 8 is provided on its projecting end with a polishing disk 12of any suitable type, the preferred type being shown. This disk 2 isheld on the spindle by means of interengaging threads 14 n orme eht u eend 6 o th spindle and a corresponding opening in the disk or disksupport 17. The spindle is also shouldered at 18 to position the diskand the latter is further secured by a nut 19 on the lower end of theshaft which nut enters a depression in the disk not fully illustrated.

The construction further includes in the preferred form a longitudinalduct 20 extending from one end to the other of the spindle andterminating at its lower end in a downwardly disposed opening 21 at thelower end of the spindle adjacent the operative surface 22 of the pad24.

Th nvent al o re a e o he hre eien a the ot n of h p ndle 9 a e oir -5wh ch in t m o h n ion ho n ha a ce ra shan 6 extending downwar ly fromits bottom wall. This is threaded into the gear easing n it reduced ew rend 2' ent rs a ce es n g ock 28 n t e up er nd of th sp ndl h i alearan e Se li ht a to pr vent h e cape oi e ol shin ma ial.- Th ehehh26 is pr ded it e ee tradu 2.9 extending downwardly from a valve seat 30in the bottom of the re e oir ahtl eehheet he a t le er nd ith the ue 20n th s nd e, Th re oir 5 s shewn as n th erm f a lin e er e uivalent e eru ien eeht inin a i ton 31 m un ed 9 l e tree/1 th re n u h vin a .1 4t gh en a em n with th ey inde Wal While the piston may be of anysuitable conetrue ieh, in h te m hown. i is very mu h li th crd rv thpump pistons includin t u u the s amed wa her 2: The o e n i h cup beingdisposed downwardly toward the liquid being fed tends to inflate itagainst the walls an revent leaka e of t s iq id past the pi st h a hois p vided with a bu i 33 which operates as a slide bearing for thevalve stem 3 Th s member .33 is Shown as p e at its upper end with anangular nut or head 35 which bears against an upper metal disk '75, andhas a downwardly projecting threaded member 36 which may engagecorresponding threads in the aperture 3'7 in a metal disk or plate 38inside the cup washer 32 holding the latter in position and holding thepiston parts in their assembled relation.

The polishing compound is retained at 39 in the lower end of thecylinder and the piston 31 is pressed down against the polishingcompound which is preferably liquid by means of a helical compressionspring 40 located in the upper end against the cylinder head or cover 41and at its lower end against the piston 31.

The cap or head 41, Figure 4, is shown as takng ove t n e the y inder han a t r d n a m n therewi at 42 and is P id d r erehly in e eeh a lo aton h a threaded p nng ,3- This hre ded open n c a a screw plus 44 engagn the th ead i the p i nd having at its upper end a knurled head 45, theplug and head being secured to the upper end of the valve stem 34, thelower end of which is provided with a valve member 46 which engages andcooperates with the valve seat 30 at the bottom of th r ervoir and at heu p r en or the d ct 29, 20, where it leaves the bottom of the reservoir 25.

In the operation of the apparatus of this type, the pad 24 being placedon the surface to be cleaned, the valve 46 is opened by unscrewing theplug 44, engaging the same by the knurled head which may be connected tothe spindle 34 either positively so as to rotate the valve, or otherwiseso as to merely raise it as preferred. A very slight opening such as canconveniently be obtained in this way, is sufficient to permit just theright amount of liquid to flow downward on to the surface to be treated,indicated at 46, and the pad and tool being moved by hand, the pad beingpreferably not rotated at the time though it may be rotated if desired,the compound is spread over the desired area of surface following whichthe valve is closed and the pad operated by means of the .IllQtOX togive the desired effect of cleaning and polishing as already outlined.

Referring now to the type o machine illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3,the arrangement of the motor housing 1, gear casing 2, spindle 8 andreservoir or cylinder 25 is the same in both constructions as is alsothe piston 31 and valve stem slide bearing 33 therein.

The valve stem 50 and the cylinder head 51 are, however, differentlyarranged. The cylinder head or cover 51 is provided with a central slidebearing 52 extending in the direction of the axis and the valve stem 50is mounted to slide therein as well as in the bearing 35 which latter issufficiently tight to prevent the escape of the liquid. In theconstruction shown the spindle 5.0 carrying the valve 56, instead ofbeing operated by a screw thread, slides through the head 51 in thedirection of its length, the valve being normally closed by means of acoil or helical spring 57 wh ch en e t n n a t b co lar 5 secured to thevalve stem and at the other end bears against the bottom surface 59 ofthe cylinder cover or head 51. The valve stem 50 extends well above thecylinder head 51 in the closed position of the valve and is provided atits upper end with a shoulder or head 60 which is engaged from beneathby the forked or other suitable apertured end 61 of a hand lever 62which extends longitudinally of the motor housing 1 and gear casing 2along the top of the same, being pivotally mounted at 63 on the motorhousing just for v wardly of the center of the lever which is shaped toconform to the general contour of the top side of the apparatus. Therear end of lever 62 has a thumb rest or presser end at 64 in convenientrelation to the grip 3. The rear or manually engaged end of the lever 62is supported in any suitable manner as by means of a spring stud orbutton 65 located on the motor housing so that it is held normally outof engagement with the head 60 of the valve stem, permitting the valveto remain normally closed.

When in the operation of the tool it is desired to spread the liquidover the surface to be treated, the motor being preferably stopped, therear end or operable end 64 of the hand lever 62 is pressed downwardlyby the thumb of the operator, swinging the forward end of the same, i.e., the apertured end 61, upwardly against the head 60 of the valve stemwhich stem is thereby raised, raising the valve 56 from its seat andpermitting any desired amount of the liquid to escape. The valve 56 isthus so conveniently and quickly opened and closed that the liquid maybe most uniformly and economically distributed over the surface to betreated. When the polishing compound has been thus spread on thesurface, the hand lever is released and the valve permitted to close bythe operation of the spring 57, and the switch lever 4 being pressed,the pad is placed in rotation and the cleaning and polishing operationcompleted.

I have thus described specifically and in detail a polishing tool havinga reservoir for the polishing compound and a valve means thereinembodying the features of my invention in different alternative forms,however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than ina limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hand controlled manually portable power driven rotary cleaningand polishing tool having a hand grip a hollow spindle, means supportinga polishing pad thereon, a reservoir for cleaning and polishing liquidconnected to the upper end of said spindle passage, said hollow forminga passage for liquid from said reservoir to said pad, a piston in saidreservoir operating to force the liquid through said passage, a valvecontrolling said passage and means extending upwardly through saidpiston for operating said valve to deliver a supply of liquid to the padat the will of the operator and to discontinue the same, said valveoperating means sliding freely through said piston, and includingmanually engaged means immediately adjacent said grip so that the valvecan be operated by the gripping hand without releasing the grip.

2. In a hand controlled manually portable power driven rotary cleaningand polishing tool a hollow spindle, means supporting a polishing padthereon, a reservoir for cleaning and polishing liquid connected to theupper end of said passage, said hollow forming a passage for liquid fromsaid reservoir leading to the pad, a spring pressed piston in saidreservoir operating to force the liquid through said passage, a valvecontrolling said passage and manually engaged means extending upwardlythrough said piston into convenient reach of the operator, said manuallyengaging means sliding freely through the piston in operating said valveto control the supply of liquid to the pad.

3. In a hand controlled manually portable power operated cleaning andpolishing tool, said tool having a hand grip and being of the rotarytype of tool having a rotary hollow spindle, means for operating thesame and means for securing a polishing pad to the lower end of thespindle and said tool, a reservoir for cleaning and polishing liquidmounted on the said tool, said hollow providing a passage for liquidfrom the reservoir to the pad, a spring operated piston in the reservoirto apply pressure to the liquid and force the liquid through saidpassage, a valve controlling said passage, a spring tending to close thevalve and a lever immediately adjacent the hand grip and adapted to beenclosed within and operated by the operators hands in holding the toolfor controlling the valve.

4. In a manually controlled and supported power operated portablecleaning and polishing tool of the rotary type having a hollow spindle,means for operating the same and means for securing a polishing pad tothe lower end of the spindle, a reservoir for polishing compound mountedon said tool, said hollow providing a passage for liquid in passing fromthe reservoir to the pad, a spring operated piston in the reservoiroperating toforce the liquid through said passage, a valve controllingsaid passage, a spring tending to close the valve, the tool having ahand grip, a switch immediately adjacent said grip, and a lever foroperating said valve against the spring having an engaging portionimmediately adjacent the grip.

5. In a manually controlled and portable power driven polishing tool ofthe rotary type having a hand grip and hollow spindle, means forsecuring a polishing pad to the lower end of the latter, a reservoir, ahollow in the spindle serving as a passage for polishing liquid from thereservoir to the pad, a valve controlling said passage, a piston in thereservoir for applying pressure to the liquid tending to force itthrough said passage, a spring tending to advance the piston and expelthe liquid through the passage to the pad, said piston having anopening, and the valve having a stem sliding freely through and fittingin said opening and means in the form of a lever having a manuallyengaged portion in close relation to said hand grip for operating thevalve, at the will of the operator and by means of the gripping hand.

ALONZO G. DECKER.

